Westshore drug-free coalition receives funding for strategic plan

by Noreen Kyle

The Westshore Young Leaders Network (WYLN), an emerging coalition in Cuyahoga County that serves six communities in the Westshore region of Northeast Ohio, received notification that they have been selected to be mentored by The Community Awareness and Prevention Association (CAPA) for the Coalition of Excellence - Mentoring Grant from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

The funding will be used to enhance community collaboration and reduce youth substance use in the Westshore communities of Bay Village, Fairview Park, Lakewood, North Olmsted, Rocky River and Westlake. It will also assist in the development of a strategic planning process that will result in a comprehensive community action plan by completing a logic model and intervention mapping.

In an effort to understand the local conditions that are contributing to youth substance use in the Westshore communities, a Community Perception Survey will be used to gather data; examining the community strengths, gaps, needs and barriers that are impacting the children, youth, adults and families in the communities.

The Westshore Young Leaders Network is dedicated to implementing strategies aimed at preventing and reducing youth substance use while encouraging healthy life choices in the Westshore Communities. For information or to join WYLNetwork Coalition call 440-250-9916 or visit www.westshoreyoungleaders.org.

Noreen Kyle

WEB is the Westshore Enforcement Bureau, a drug task force serving 6 Westshore Communities; Bay Village; Fairview Park; Lakewood; North Olmsted; Rocky River and Westlake. As School Prevention Specialsit working for WEB, we provide alcohol and drug prevention services for the middle and high school teens within the Westshore Schools.